Shaft-supporter.



PATENTED JAN. '7, 1908.

S.TRAGY. SHAFT SUPPORTER.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 3,1907.

Q/vi in zoom attoznu 50 WASHINGTON. a. c.

SAMUEL TRACY, OF TOPEKA, KANSAS.

SHAFT-SUPPORTER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 7', 1908.

Application filed June 3, 1907. Serial No. 377.040.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SAMUEL TRACY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Topeka, in the county of Shawnee and State of Kansas, have invented certain new and useful Improvement in Shaft-Supporters, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in holders for the shafts or poles of vehicles and more particularly to a device carried at the front of the vehicle and including a pivoted arm, capable of movement to two positions, an extended position in use and a folded position when not in use.

The invention aims as a primary object to provide means for holding the spring at the front of the vehicle and from which the device is supported, rigid during the use of such device and to this end it includes a supplemental arm for engagement with the front springs in a manner to be hereinafter specifically stated.

The invention aims as a further object to provide a device of this character embodying a clip of novel form and construction for securing the same to the said front spring.

The details of construction will appear in the course of the following description in which reference is had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, like characters of reference designating similar parts, throughout the several views wherein Figure 1, is a detailed perspective view showing the manner of use of the device comprehended in the present invention. Fig. 2, is a similar view showing the said device with the parts in folded relation. Fig. 3, is a fragmentary side elevation showing the supplemental arm folded. Fig. 4, is a similar View showing the supplemental arm extended. Fig. 5, is an enlarged side elevation showing a modified form of clip adapted for a spring of the Bailey loop type and in which the extended position of the arms is shown in full lines and the folded position thereof in dotted lines. Fig. 6, is a front elevation thereof, the arms being in extended position and Fig. 7, is a detailed perspective view illustrating two interlocking parts included in the clip shown in Fig. 5.

The spring illustrated in Fig. 1, is of conventional form and is designated generally by the numeral 1.

The shafts are designated by the numeral 2, and adjacent their rear ends are connected by the usual cross brace a. Imposed upon the upper face of the upper leaf of spring 1, is a horizontal wooden bar 4, having a curved exposed face and from which the front end of the vehicle is hung. Straddling said bar at a central point is a strap 5, of U-shapo the depending legs of which are projected through the base 6, of a bracket 7. Nuts 8, are threaded on the ends of said legs to bind the parts. Adjacent the strap 5, a similar binding strap 9, is provided, which cooperates with a jam plate 10, held by nuts 11, threaded upon the ends of the legs of the strap 9. The bracket 7, is formed with a forwardly extending web 12, and with a perpendicular web 13 which is recessed as at 14, to partially surround the adjacent leg of the strap 5. Projecting upwardly from the web 12, is an apertured lug 15, which is engaged pivotally by means of a pin 16, between parallel arms 17, the latter conjointly constituting a forwardly projecting bracket. A nut 18, is threaded upon the pin 16, whereby said arms may be held at selected angular disposition with relation to the bracket 7. A pin 19, is engaged through the forward ends of the arms 17, and through the end of an arm 20, mounted for swinging movement.

The arm 20, in its extended position engages the cross brace 3, in a plane at right angles to the axis of the latter, to sustain the shafts 2, in an elevated position as shown more nu'ticularly in Fig. 1. The arm 20, at its lower end is formed with an angular extension 21, which engages a laterally and inwardly projecting stop lug 22, provided upon one of the arms 17, and shown by dotted lines in Figs. 5 and (5, the function of the extension 21, being to limit the extended swinging movement of the arm 20. For the purpose of sustaining the arm 20, in its folded position, the arms 17, are provided on their inner faces with lugs 23, against which the arm 20, impinges.

Depending from the web 12, are spaced apertured cars 24, between which is received the angular end 25, of a supplemental arm 26. A pivot pin 27, held by a nut 28, is engaged through the ears 2t, and through the end 25, and the binding action of the nut 28, is sullicicnt to hold the arm 26, at selected dispositions. Said arm 26, during the use of the arm 20, is swung downwardly on its pivot and engaged with the lower leaf of spring as shown in Fig. 1. Thus it is impossible for the spring to have any action I or vibration such as would tend to release the arm 20, from its engagement with the cross brace 3, such engagement being sustained by reason of the opposition of the line of gravitating force of the shafts to the axial line of the arm 20. When not in use the arm 26, is folded to a position between the arms 17, as shown in Figs. 2 and 5.

As above intimated the clip shown in Fig. 5, is designed for use in connection with a spring of the Bailey loop type and with this object in view said clip comprises essentially an angular member 29, including a horizontal portion 30, upon which the arms 17, are mounted in the manner above set forth, and a depending portion 31, to the lower end of which the arm 26, is pivoted. The said clip also includes a am plate32 ,which at its front end is formed with an angular finger 33, for engagement as a hook over a web 34, provided upon the depending portion 31, above the ivot of the arm 26. A bolt 35, is projectec through the horizontal portion 30, and its threaded end is projected through the rear end of the plate 32, a nut 36, being engaged upon said threaded end to bind the plate 32, against the metallic bar of the Bailey loop.

What is claimed is 1. The combination with a shaft holder including a shaft holding arm, of an arm carried by said holder and movable to engage the vehicle springs as and for the purpose set forth.

2. A shaft holder comprising a shaft engaging arm and a supplemental arm for engagement with the springs of the vehicle to hold the same rigid.

3. A shaft holder including means for sustaining the shafts in an elevated position and means for holding the vehicle springs rigid against downward movement with respect to the vehicle axle during the use of said sustaining means.

4. A shaft holder comprising a shaft engaging arm and a pivotally mounted supplemental arm for engagement with the springs of the vehicle as and for the purpose set forth.

5. A shaft holder comprising a bracket, a shaft supporting arm carried thereby and a pivoted supplemental arm carried thereby and capable of movement to an extended position and engage the vehicle spring, or to a folded position.

6. A shaft holder comprising an angular member formed with a horizontal portion and depending portion, a shaft engaging arm carried by the horizontal portion, a supplemental spring engaging arm carried by the depending portion, a jam plate having one end formed for detachable interlocking engagement with said depending portion, a bolt through said horizontal portion, and said jam plate and a nut threaded upon the end of said bolt.

7. A shaft holder comprising a bracket,'

parallel arms projecting forwardly therefrom, a shaft supporting arm pivotally mounted between said parallel arms, and a pivotal supplemental arm carried by said bracket and movable at its free end into folded position between said parallel arms.

8. A shaft holder comprising means for sustaining the shafts in elevated position, and means adapted to receive support from the vehicle axle to sustain the vehicle springs in rigid normally distended position during use of said first means, said second means being normally disengaged from the axle.

9. A shaft holder comprising a support to be afiixed to the upper leaf of the elliptical vehicle springs, and a pair of movable elements carried on opposite sides of said support, one of said elements being movable to engage the shafts and sustain the same in elevated position, and the other element being adapted to receive rigid support from the vehicle axle to sustain the upper leaf of said vehicle springs rigid against downward movement.

10. A shaft holder embodying a support to be secured to the upper leaf of the vehicle springs, shaft supporting means carried by said support to sustain the shafts in elevated position, and means carried by said support to engage the lower leaf of the ve hicle springs and thereby sustain the upper leaf and said support against downward movement.

11. A shaft holder embodying a support 1 to be secured to the upper leaf of the vehicle springs, means carried by said holder to engage the shafts and sustain the same in elevated position, and a foldable pivoted arm depending from said support to engage the lower leaf of the spring and thereby sustain the upper leaf and said support against downward movement.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

SAMUEL TRACY Witnesses:

GEORGE YOUNG, HARRY L. OGHAM. 

